Patient handling means for bathtubs



J. N. GROSS Filed April 17.- 1945 PATIENT HANDLING MEANS FOR BATHTUBS OIfII/I/lf/IIIlI/IIl/Illl 111111111111v11111111111/11lII11/l/ Oct 31, 1944 INVENTOR cJ/m N. Gross ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES. PATENT" FFICE PATIENT HANDLING EANS FOR BATHTUBS I John N. Gross, San Diego, Calif. I Application April 17, 1943, Serial No. 483,492

9 Claims.

Second, to provide a means of this class in.

which the patient supporting table is readily elevated to a position above the upper side of the bathtub for use as a massage table;'

Third, to provide a means of this class in which a patient supporting table is readily elevated to a position above a bathtub for drying a patient thereon after bathing;

Fourth, to provide a means of this class in which a patient supporting table is readily and easily elevated to a considerable distance above the bathtub whereby patients may be removed therefrom substantially on a level with conventional patient carriages;

Fifth, to provide a means of this class in which a motor may be used in lowering or elevating the patient into or out of bathtubs whereby smooth uniform movement of the patient is accomplished;

Sixth, to provide a means of this class in which the operating mechanism is enclosed in a readily accessible mechanism encasing compartment in the side of the bathtub providing a smooth unobstructed sidewall of the bathtub and convenient access to the operating mechanism when desired;

Seventh, to provide a-means of this class in which the operating motor is insulated from all connecting parts whereby the patients while bathing are protected from electrical shocks;

Eighth, to provide a novel patient handling means for bathtubs of this class;

Ninth, to provide a means of this class which is very safe and smooth in operation and is therefore well adapted for use in handling helpless patients; and

Tenth, to provide a means of this class which is very. simple and economical of construction, efficient, durable and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will portion Id, as shown best in be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof the bath tub with which my patient handling means is connected; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the bathtub taken from the line' 2- -2 of Fig. 1 and showing my patient handling means in connection therewith; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bathtub taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing part of the mechanism of my patient handling means in connection with the bathtub; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bathtub and my patient handling means taken from the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5

Ban enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken" from the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and showing a portion in elevation to'facilitate the illustration;

Fig. 6 is an-enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of Fig.3 showing .parts' and portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration, and Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view takenfrom the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference'refer to similar parts and portions throughoutthe several views of the drawing.

The bathtub I, crankshafts 2 and 3, patient supporting table 4, worm gears 5 and 6, worm pinions I an'd8, motor 9, shafts Ill and II, insulation couplings I2 and I3, and the'packing gland I4 constitute the principalparts and portions of my patient handling means for bathtubs.

The bathtub I is provided with sidewall portions la and lb which are substantially conventional in form, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This bathtub I is arranged to contain water for bathing purposes and one end of this bathtub l is provided with a curved portion. Io

which is-inconforming arcuate relation with the radius of the crankshaft 3, as shown in Fig. 4

of the drawing. Integral with'the sidewall portion lb of the bathtub is the mechanism casing Fig; 2 of the drawing. Pivotally connected with the outer side of this mechanism casing portion Id are the doors is and If. These doors Ie and If are supported on hinges IQ and lh providing convenient access to the mechanism in the mechanism casing portion ld,'as shown best in Figs, 1 and 2of the drawing.

shaped in form, as shown best in Fig. 2 of" the drawing. The opposite ends of these crankshafts 2 and 3 are disposed at a right angle and are journalled in the opposing sidewall portions la and lb of the bathtub I. These crankshafts 2 and 3 are identical in form therefore the opposite ends of the crankshafts 2 and 3, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, are common to both the crankshafts 2 and 3. In Fig. 5 of the drawing the end portion 2a of the crankshaft 2 is shown journalled in the sidewall portion la of the bathtub I. Thejournalportion lylof the sidewall portion id'is enclosedat the endiizdoffvthe crankshaft 2 whereby leakage of water from the bathtub I around the end portion 2a of the crank-e shaft 2 is eliminated.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing the end portion seer wall portionlb of the bathtub I. This end portion 3a of the crankshaft 3 extends'through' the sidewall portion lb of the bathtub l and is provided with a packing gland l4 thereon arranged to prevent .leakage-otwater from the interior of the'bathtub -l outwardly aroundjthe end 3a: of the crankshaft 3. 1 1- Rigidly connected with theiendzportion 3a of the crankshaft 3 i the wonngear Mall as shown best in Fig.6of the drawingw H In connection-with the end portion 2b 'of the crankshaft 2 is the wormgearili, as shown best in Figs. 2and3ofthe-drawing. -i

Journalled on the crankshaits 2 and his the patient Supporting table Connected with this patient supporting; tablal at its opposite ends are bearing members 4a and-411 which areiournalled on thecrankshafts. ancll, respectively, as shown best: Figs. 2 and 4 oithe drawing. This patient supporting tableziis; a.-'relatively rigid member arranged, to support patients in: connection withthecrankshafts Zand- 3. I

The motor 9. is supported on agbrackelz 5a which is provided with aninsfllation block 912,. as shown best, in Figs. 2and3of the drawing. Connected with opposite ends -of' the, shaft 0f the motor 9 are the insulation couplings l2 and I3., These insulation couplings J2 and t3 are substantially conventional couplings and are. provided with intermediate coupling portions lzaand I311 which ar formed of insulation material, as shown in Fig, 7 of the drawing. This insulationmaterial is a. non-conductor of. electricity and the block 91) is likewise anon-conductor of electricity thus completely' insulating thefmotorti-irom its connecting. mechanism and the bathtub- I The, shait' l l. isajournalled in the bracke Ha and is conh'ectedwiththe insulation coupling l2. The shaftjl'flfl'is journalled in the bracket la and is connectedwithjtheinsulation coupling l3. Rigidly connected witli the endsof the shafts Ill and H are the worm pinions 8 and! respectively, Th se. worm. minions. 1 and 8 mesh with the worm. sea s and 6 inconnection with. the crankshafts 2 and 3, as hereinbeforedescrjibed.

The. operation "oi my patient. handling for o htubsis sllhstantiallyasfollowsz When t s. desired; to bathea helpless patient the motor 9 is iopfirated in thedesired direction for elevating the patient. supporting table 4 to substantially the dashline. position, as] shown in- Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. Thepatient'is placed upon, e. p ient-supporting table, t and the motor 9 is then. op ra cdin the reverse. dir ction,.it.beine noted that this motor 9. is a.v reversible.- electric motor, and is a relatively slow motor arranged-to slowly elevate andlower the patient supporting tabl mm nd-.into .tnebathtub I.

When. th

g means supporting table the patient is slowly lowered into the bathtub I by revoluble operation of the motor 9 which revolves the Worm pini-ons I and 8 in connection with the worm gears 5 and 6 which slowly revolve the crankshafts 2 and 3. When the crankshafts 2 and 3 have revolved to the position as shown by solid lines in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the motor is stopped and the patient supporting table 4 is submerged in the water in the bathtub and the patient on the patient supporting tablef may be bathed asdesired.

After bathing the patient the patient support ing table 4 is raised to the dashline position as the crankshaft 3 is shown journalledinthe side 2 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing, whereupon the patient i's dried and may be massaged upon the patient supporting table.

It will be noted that the uppermost dashline 1 position of this patient supporting table 4, as

atientis pcsitioned-uponthe patient 7 ing said crankshafts.

shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing, is a considerable distance above the bathtub I whereby same plane with said patient supporting table 4 when in the dashline position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing;

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not- Wish to be limited tov this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially asset forth in the appended, claims.

vHaving thusdescri-bedmy invention, what I claim as new andtdesire tosecure by Letters Patentis;

1.-In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination with a.

bathtub of two U-shaped crankshafts journalled at opposite sides intheside walls of said bathtub and a patient supporting, table providedwith stationary hearing portions ear its opposite ends journallecl on said crankshafts said table shiftable longitudinally and vertically between the side walls of said bathtub. V

2. In a patientehandling means for bathtubs of the class described,- the combination with a bathtub of two U-shaped crankshafts journalled at opposite sides the side Walls-of said bathtub, a patient supporting table provided with stationary bearing portions near its opposite ends journalled on said crankshafts said table shiftable longitudinally and vertically between the side walls ofsaid bathtub and means for revolv- 3 In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination with a bathtub of two U-shaped crankshafts journalled alt-opposite sides in the sidewallsv of said bathtub, a patient supporting table provided with bearing portionsnearitsopposite ends journalled on saidv crankshaftssaid table shiitable longitudinally and vertically between the side walls ofsaid bathtub and means for revolving said crankshafts including worm gears on the end of said cranksha-fits and worm pinions in mesh with said worm gears.

at. In apatient handling means for bathtubs oitheclass described, the-combination with a bathtub.- of two U-shapedcrankshafts 'journalled at opposite sides in theside-wallsof said bathtub,-

a patient supporting,- table provided with bearing and vertically between the side walls of said ,pinions.

' 5. In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination with a bathtub of two U-shaped crankshafts journalled in opposite sides in the side walls of said bathtub, a patient supporting table provided with bearing portions near its opposite ends journalled on said crankshafts said table shiftable longitudinally and vertically between the side Walls of said bathtub and means for revolving said crankshafts including worm gears on the end of said crankshafts, worm pinions in mesh with said worm gears, a motor for revolving said worm pinions, and insulation means interposed between said motor and said worm pinions.

6. In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination with a bathtub of two U-shaped crankshafts journalled in the opposite side walls of said bathtub, a patient supporting table provided with bearing portions near its opposite 'ends journalled on said crankshafts said table shiftable longitudinally and vertically between the side Walls of said bathtub, and packing gland means in connection with the side wall of said bathtub engaging the outer sides of said crankshafts.

7. In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination of a bathtub having an enclosed compartment portion within one side wall, crankshafts having their ends journalled in the side walls of said bathtub and one end extending into said compartment, and a patient supporting table journalled on said crankshafts intermediate their ends, said table shiftable both longitudinally and vertically between the side walls of said bathtub.

8. In a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination of a bathtub having an enclosed compartment portion v Within one side wall, crankshafts having their ends journalled in the side walls of said bathtub and one end extending into said compartment, a patient supporting table journalled on said crankshafts, and means in said compartment for revolving said crankshafts intermediate their ends, said table shiftable both longitudinally and vertically between the side walls of said bathtub.

9. In 'a patient handling means for bathtubs of the class described, the combination of a bathtub having an enclosed compartment within one side wall, crankshafts having their ends journalled' in the side of said bathtub and one end extending into said compartment, a patient supporting table journalled on said crankshafts intermediate their ends, said table shiftable both longitudinally and vertically between the side walls of said bathtub, means in said compartment for revolving said crankshafts, and doors forming the outer side of said compartment.

JOHN N. GROSS. 

